Aqualisa Quartz Case Study Essays

Aqualisa Quartz Case Study Essays Aqualisa Quartz Case Study Paper Aqualisa Quartz Case Study Paper 1. Aqualisa spent three years and â‚ ¬5.8 million developing the Quartz. Was the product worth the investment? Is Quartz a niche product or a mainstream product? What is the Quartz value proposition to plumbers? To consumers? Answer: In my personal opion, it was worth for the Aqualisa to spend three years and â‚ ¬5.8 million developing the Quartz because of the tremendous potential market demands. For 60% of families had shower with lot of mechanical problems and inconvenient use experiences, Quartz with it’s signigicate advantages were designed to feet their customer’s needs. The conventional shower can no longer satisigy the market demand, innovation and customer value delivery is the market trend since forever. As the result, the development of Quartz proved Aqualisa’s brand value in marketing base aspect by deliverying â€Å"cleverness† of the product and its â€Å"elegant design†. As for finance aspect, Quartz provide higher customer value products with considerable margin which even higher than core products-Aquavalve 609. Based on these factor, Quartz is worth the investment in the long run. Accurently, Quartz was accepted by limited market due to three factors. Fistly, the shower distribution mainly relays on plumbers (Exhibit 4 showcase 27% of consumer selects type and brand of shower without advice from plumber, the rest 73% of consumer are affected by plumbers by different extent.)who reluctant to accept new products with innovation especially involves electronics. Secondly, the sales channel and marketing activities are limited. According to Exhibit 7 Aqualisa Select Financial Statement, only 2.7 million euro was spent in marketing process, which indicate the insufficient marketing strategy or activities may contributed to Quartz’s limited market ratio. However, Quartz is a mainstream product, with its significant advantages which can resolves all issues and with its high customer value, will become the market trend in the future is only the Aqualisa will fit their appropriate marketing strategy and activities with certain market base. Consumers are currently relatively uninformed and there was little understanding of product options. The propositions of the product for plumbers were listed herein below: Firstly, easy to install. As for the traditional shower, the installing work is really tough and time-consuming. In addition, the installing job is really difficult so that there is a serious shortage at senior plumber who can install the shower perfectly. But the installing job of this product is easier and need less time so even the apprentice can make it. Secondly, Quartz guaranteed that this product would not break down easily or require sevicing. Thirdly, More profitable, because they can do more jobs in the same period of time due to huge market demand. The propositions of the product for customers were listed herein below: Firstly, Efficient and reliable water pressure and temperature. Secondly, looks great and eligent. Thirdly, easy to use (One touch control with red light indicator), especially for elderly and kids. The last but not the least, much easier to install for DIY sector Traditional shower buyers are always suffering in some problems such as the low pressure and unstable temperature of the shower. But Quartz’s new shower technology resolved all of these problems. 2. Aqualisa currently has three brands: Aqualisa, Gainsborough, and ShowerMax. What is the rationale behind this multiple brand strategy? Does it make sense? Answer: The market base has been cut into three segment by their purchase features. Direct cosumer, DIY market and Developer. The three brands are concertrated in these three segement separately so as to allow brand to penetrate different specialized markets. Aqualisa deliver higher end, range of different types of electric, mixer, and power showers; shown in show rooms and used my consumers/plumners, Aqualisa available in 40% of trade shops Gainsborough mainly for DIY market (sizeable) ; 70% of Gainsborough brand Shower Max for developers, which was available only through specialist contract outlets. Elements of the Aquavalve technology had been redesigned and re- branded for the ShowerMax product line and optimized for developers’ specific needs. The target customers of these three brands are totally different. So the reason of Aqualisa create three different brands is to highlight the difference between these three brands. As the matter of fact, customers can base on their needs and find the things really fulfill their requirements. 3. Why is the Quartz shower not selling? Answer: The reasons of Quartz shower not selling listed herein below: First of all, the shower distribution mainly relays on plumbers (Exhibit 4 showcase 27% of consumer selects type and brand of shower without advice from plumber, the rest 73% of consumer are affected by plumbers by different extent.)who reluctant to accept new products with innovation especially involves electronics. Secondly, the sales channel and marketing activities are limited. According to Exhibit 7 Aqualisa Select Financial Statement, only 2.7 million euro was spent in marketing process, which indicate the insufficient marketing strategy or activities may contributed to Quartz’s limited market ratio. The Quartz products were only gaining traction in the showrooms, the boarder were concern about cannibalism (and bringing down value) of other products. Thirdly, the price of Quartz may little bit higher than customer expected for they are currently relatively uninformed and there was little understanding of product options.

The Mountaintop by Katori Hall

The Mountaintop by Katori Hall Great theater can emerge from a simple yet evocative question: What if? Katori Hall, winner of the Blackburn Prize for outstanding women playwrights, asks the question: What did Martin Luther King Jr. do the night before he died? Who did he talk to? What did he say? Her play attempts to answer these questions, albeit in an imaginative rather than realistic way. The Mountaintop took home Englands Olivier Award for best play. In fall 2011, the plays poignant message resonated on Broadway, starring featuring Samuel L. Jackson and Angela Bassett. About the Playwright Born in 1981, Katori Hall is a young, vibrant new voice in modern theater. Much of her work derives from her experiences in her hometown of Memphis, Tennessee. According to her official website, her major works include: Hoodoo Love (Cherry Lane Theatre)Remembrance (Womens Project)Saturday Night/Sunday MorningWHADDABLOODCLOT!!!The Hope WellOur Lady of KibehoPussy Valley Her most recent work (as of 2012) is Hurt Village; set in a housing project in Memphis it depicts a returning Iraq veterans struggle to find a position in his disintegrating community, along with a place in his daughters wounded heart. (The Signature Theatre). However, Halls most renowned work to date is the historical/spiritual drama, The Mountaintop. The Plot The Mountaintop is a two-person drama about the last day of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The entire play is set in the Lorraine hotel room, the evening before his assassination. King is alone, trying to create yet another powerful speech. When he orders a cup of coffee from room service, a mysterious woman arrives, bringing much more than a late-night beverage. What follows is a reflective, often funny, often touching conversation in which Dr. King examines his achievements, his failures, and his unfinished dreams. Other Plays About Martin Luther King, Jr This is not the first time that a speculative drama has explored Dr. Kings amazing legacy. The Meeting, by Jeff Stetson, explores the contrasting methods and the common dreams of two dignified civil rights leaders (Malcolm X and Dr. King) who sacrificed their lives fighting for justice. Theme Analysis of The Mountaintop: SPOILER ALERT: Its not easy to analyze the messages of this play without revealing surprise elements of The Mountaintop. So, reader beware, I am about to ruin the big surprise in the play. The mysterious woman who seems to be a hotel maid is named Camae (short for Carrie May which might be code for carry me). At first, she seems to be a perfectly normal (beautiful, outspoken) maid, who is in favor of social change, but not necessarily in favor of all of Dr. Kings methods. As a storytelling device, Camae allows the audience to witness a more personal and irreverent side of Dr. King, one that the cameras and public appearances rarely captured. Camae is also willing to debate with the reverend on social matters, strongly and eloquently expressing her own views on racism, poverty, and the slowly progressing civil rights movement. It soon becomes clear, however, that Camae is not what she appears. She is not a maid. She is an angel, a recently created angel, in fact. Her first assignment is to inform Martin Luther King, Jr. that he is going to die very soon. Here the play shifts its focus. What begins as a behind-the-scenes look at one of Americas greatest leaders (in all his frustration and frailty), ultimately becomes a struggle to accept ones mortality and prepare for a journey into what Hamlet calls the undiscovered country. As one might expect, King isnt happy to find out that he is going to die. In some ways, his dialogue is reminiscent to Everyman, the morality play from 15th century Europe. The key difference, however, is that Everyman represents an average person who has failed to live a saintly life. Dr. King doesnt profess to be a saint (in fact, both the angel and King mention his extra-marital affairs), but he does rightly argue that he has been fighting a just cause and that he is the best person to continue the struggle for equality. During the last half of the play, King experiences the different stages of coping with death: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, acceptance. Arguably the best part of these stages is the bargaining portion when Dr. King actually gets to talk to God over the telephone. If The Mountaintop sounds morbid, theres actually a lot of humor and whimsy throughout this play. Camae is a feisty and foul-mouthed angel, and she is proud to announce that her wings are her breasts and that God is a woman. The play concludes with not only acceptance but joy and celebration for what has been accomplished, as well as a firm reminder of the dreams that have yet to come to fruition.

Tribute Money by Masaccio Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Tribute Money by Masaccio - Essay Example Matthew, kneeling in the far left, deliberately replies strangers. The tax collectors confront the group of holy men. Masaccio’s purpose was to create a realistic painting that contained natural aspects of the environment as well as the human composition. He focuses on directing the viewer’s eyes to the vanishing point of the painting, the head of Christ. Masaccio used atmospheric perspective, making all the mountains in the background hazy and Peter to be paler than the figures in the foreground. This technique created a depth within the painting to render Realism. It is difficult to see the cuts of the mountains in the background but the folds of the robesin the foreground are easily distinguishable. Masaccio, unlike earlier artists like Giotto, did not use a flat, neutral light from an unidentifiable source. He used light from a specific location outside the painting to create a chiaroscuro effect, the representation of form through light and color without outlines. There is no light source visible within the picture but if the viewer notices the shadows of the figures, they are al l cast away from the chapel. This makes the viewer believe the figures were lit by the light through the chapel window. Masaccio proves this belief by creating the front two columns brighter than the rest of the chapel. Furthermore, the tax collector on the far right and the chapel wall is extremely dark. In general, all figures and objects become gradually dimmer as the viewer looks to the right. Masaccio uses the composition of his figures to create a three-dimensional world to depict reality. Masaccio’s figures in the foreground are large, solid figures that dominate the natural setting before the lake and mountains. In contrast, he uses soft hand gestures and facial expressions rather than swift actions to show movements within the painting. This emphasizes

Using Recycled PCC as Aggregate in New PCC Research Paper

Using Recycled PCC as Aggregate in New PCC - Research Paper Example However, these recycled concrete aggregates (RCA) have to meet NJDOT’s quality needs in case they are to be used in PCC. Only 11 states permit use of RCA in PCC, while all but 13 states allow the use of it in base aggregate. Some states also permit its use as miscellaneous aggregate and in HMA. Through the crushing / grinding of concrete pavements or any waste concrete, RCA is produced, after the removing any reinforcing steel. In the same way the production of aggregate from virgin materials is, production of required gradations is too- through screening and crushing (PCA 1). However, significant differences between virgin aggregates and RCA have led officials in state transportation in Muchials and New Jersey in adopting RCA as aggregate for PCC acceptably (PCA 1). The presence of mortar adhering to the Recycled aggregates or cement paste reduces density, increases drying shrinkage, and increases porosity in PCC. The presence of contaminants as well as the quality of the being recycles original concrete are all problems that should be taken in concern additionally (PCA 1). The two primary sources for use in PCC, of stockpiled RCA are precaters who are interested in reusing surplus materials and class B recyclers who crush and accept concrete waste. Before RCA is implemen ted, those are the issues that must be addressed. Another important component of the project is the preliminary review that has been provided for the expansion of this work, as a part of this proposal As the proposers believe, an extensive field installation plan is likely to result to open-ended and long research projects, which address the use of Recycled Concrete Aggregates in PCC. Due to this reason, proposals have been made to include field installation as part of part of the work. The field installation be limited to applications of lower risks that permit the recommendations and

Report on Housing Prices Statistics in Oregon from a Sample of 108 Houses Essay Example for Free

Report on Housing Prices Statistics in Oregon from a Sample of 108 Houses Essay From the eleven variables identified, area of living space in the house (sq_ft), age of the house in years (age) and selling price of the house in thousand dollars (price) were identified to be in the ratio scale for the level of measurement while number of bedrooms (beds), number of bathrooms (baths) and number of spaces for cars in the garage (garage) were identified to be in the ordinal. Lastly, the variables architectural style (style), school district were the house is located (school), method of heating the house (heat), presence of fireplace (fire) and presence of basement (basement) were identified to be in the nominal scale. These levels of measurement were the basis on what type of tests were done for the different analyses (See Appendices for table 1). On all the tests and comparisons with p-values, a 95% level of confidence is used. Descriptive Statistics on the Variables With the results gathered, most of the houses use the gas forced air method of heating. Out of the 108 houses, 96. 3% use this method while only 3. 7 use the electric baseboard heating. Also, most houses are of ranch architecture. Of the 108 houses, 40. 7% are of this architectural style, 36. 1% are of the tri-level style while 23. 1% are of the two-story type. Moreover, 84. 3% of the houses have basements. Similarly, 88. 9 of them have fireplaces. Lastly, the largest part sampled houses are located in the Apple Valley School District. From the 108 houses, 60. 2 are located in this school district while the rest are in Eastville (See Appendices for tables 2, 3, 4, 5 6). For the ordinal variables, the median number of bedrooms in the house is four which means that fifty percent of the houses have less than four bedrooms while the rest have more than four bedrooms. Similarly, fifty percent of the houses have less than three bathrooms while the other fifty percent have more than three bathrooms. In the number of spaces for cars in the garage, fifty percent of the houses can accommodate no more than two cars while the other fifty percent can. From the sample, most of the houses have three bedrooms, three bathrooms and can accommodate two cars. Since these three variables are rank variables, the means for each cannot be computed (See Appendices for tables 8, 9, 10 11). For the ratio variables, it was found out that the mean selling price of the house in Oregon is 97. 99226 thousand dollars. With a relatively small standard error of 2. 543183, the statistic for the selling price is considered accurate. Fifty percent of the houses are priced below 92. 46950 thousand dollars while the other 50% have selling prices greater than 92. 46950 thousand dollars. Having a variance of 698. 520, the data from the sample are considered to be extremely dispersed. On the average, the selling price of a house in Oregon deviates by 26. 429529 thousand dollars from the mean selling price of the house generated from the sample. The mean area of living space in the house in square feet is 1745. 72. However, the standard error of the mean, which is 42. 836, is sufficiently large. The data values for this variable are the most dispersed among the three ratio variables having a variance of 198173. 39. Fifty percent of the samples houses have areas which are below 1758. 00 square feet while the other fifty have areas greater than 1758. 00 square feet. On the average, the area of living space in the house deviates by 445. 167 square feet from the mean. For the last ratio variable, the mean age of the house in years is 11. 23. Having a standard error of 0. 448 which is very small, this statistic is considered accurate. Fifty percent of the sampled houses are below 11 years of age while the rest are more than 11 years of age. The distribution of the variable is not that dispersed. With a variance of 21. 675, the age variable is the least dispersed among the three ratio variables. On the average, the ages of the houses deviates from the mean by 4. 656 years only (See Appendices for table 13). Summing up the descriptive measures obtained on the eleven variables, a typical home in Oregon has an area of 1745. 72 square feet, approximately 11 years of age, has four bedrooms, three bathrooms and can accommodate two car spaces in the garage. Furthermore, it is of ranch architecture and uses the gas forced air method of heating. It has a basement and a fireplace. It is located in the Apple Valley School District and its selling price is 97. 99226 thousand dollars. Correlation From the scatterplots, the selling price is identified to have a positive linear relationship with area of living and a negative, close to nonlinear relationship with age of the house (See Appendices for figures 12 13). Since the data do not follow the normal distribution Spearman’s rho was used to determine the correlation between the dependent variable, price, and the other ratio scale variables (See Appendices for table 24). With a correlation coefficient of 0. 828, there is a positive very strong linear relationship between the selling price and area of living space in the house. Moreover, even if there is a negative weak linear relationship between selling price and age of the house in years, both the correlations of selling price with area and age are significant with p-value equal to 0. 000 (See Appendices for tables 14 15). Also, though there is a negative weak linear relationship between the ratio variables age and area for the -0. 292 Pearson correlation coefficient, the 0. 000 p-value says that the correlation is significant. Pearson correlation was used for the two ratio variables because both are normally distributed (See Appendices for table 22). For the ordinal variables, all of them have a significant correlation with selling price with p-values 0. 007, 0. 000 and 0. 000 for number of bedrooms, number of bathrooms and number of car spaces in garage, respectively. The number of bedrooms in the house has a positive weak linear relationship with selling price having a correlation coefficient of 0. 259. Moreover, the number of bathrooms in the house has a positive strong linear relationship with selling price having a correlation coefficient of 0. 675. Also, the number of spaces for cars in the garage has a positive moderate linear relationship with selling price having a correlation coefficient of 0. 475 (See Appendices for table 16). Among the ordinal variables, the number of bedrooms and number of bathrooms, and the number of car spaces and number of bathrooms has a significant correlation, with p-values equal to 0. 000 and 0. 003 respectively, and has a positive weak linear relationship, with correlation coefficients of 0. 358 and 0. 283 respectively (See Appendices for table 23). Among the nominal variables, only the architectural style has a positive moderate association with selling price having an Eta coefficient of 0. 485 (See Appendices for table 18). The rest has either weak or very weak associations with selling price (See Appendices for tables 17, 19, 20 21). For the two categories of method of heating, it was found out that the use of gas forced air in the house, presence of basement and presence of fireplace increases the selling price of the house. The school district location also affects the selling price. Houses located in Apple Valley School District tend to have higher prices than that of Eastville School District. Moreover, there are no significant differences on the selling prices of houses with tri-level and two-story architectural style. However, houses that are of ranch architectural style tend to have higher selling prices than that of the tri-level and two-story architectural styles (See Appendices for tables 31, 33, 35, 37, 39, 41 43). Predictors of Selling Price Using the regression model, the selling price of a house, when all other factors are held constant, decreases by 16. 113. The interpretation for the intercept is significant since the confidence interval of the estimate includes zero. Holding other factors constant, the selling price is estimated to increase by 0. 042 thousand dollars for every square feet increase in the area of living space of the house. Also, there is an estimated increase of 3. 269 thousand dollars on the selling price for every unit increase in the number of bedrooms holding other factors constant. The selling price is estimated to increase by 13. 876 thousand dollars for every unit increase in the number of spaces for cars in the garage holding other factors constant. Similarly, an increase of 6. 953 and 4. 269 thousand dollars on selling price is estimated if there is a basement and a fireplace, respectively, in the house. The selling price is also estimated to increase by 4. 874 thousand dollars if the house is located in Apple Valley School District with other factors held constant. Furthermore, the selling price is estimated to increase by 11. 053 thousand dollars if the house is of ranch architectural style holding other factors constant. If the house is of a two-story type, there is an estimated increase of 1. 714 thousand dollars. If the architectural style is tri-level, then the value to be multiplied with the beta estimates for two-story and ranch will be equal to zero since the coded value for tri-level in the dummy variables is zero (See Appendices for table 44). With a Durbin-Watson statistic of 1. 746, then the residuals are independent. Having an adjusted R square of 0. 820, the variation in the selling price of the house can be explained by the eleven variables. A mean square error of 126. 070 implies that the sum of the squared deviations of the selling prices to the true value is relatively small. With a computed F statistic of 45. 169 and a corresponding p-value of 0. 000, then the regression adequately represent the data and can be useful for prediction (See Appendices for tables 45 46). To test, given the following data on a certain house: two-story house with 1600 square feet, 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, a one car garage, gas heat, a basement, no fireplace, is 9 years old, and is in the preferred school district, then the predicted selling price of the house is 60. 804 thousand dollars. Summary The larger the area sizes of the living space of the house, the more expensive the selling price. Also, more number of bedrooms and spaces for car in the garage would also increase the selling price. In terms of architectural style, the ranch type would increase the selling price of a house most than the other two styles. Finally, the house with a basement, a fireplace and which is located in the Apple Valley School District increases also the selling price.

Consumer Culture Essay -- Consumerism

â€Å"What is consumer culture?† In the late 19th, early 20th century a new phenomenon arose. Along with the development of industrial advances and urbanization of the emerging American culture was the growth and subsequent domination of the â€Å"consumer culture†. Consumer culture is a term that goes hand and hand with the American way of life today, but in those days it was a new and unique experience. Along with the development of the mail order catalog, advertising became a focal point of American mass media. Advertising can be traced back as early as Franklin’s â€Å"Philadelphia Gazette†. After the turn of the century hand bills were given in the streets listing goods and services that many merchants could provide, and the New York Sun boasted that, along with news, readers could view advertisements in full print. The U.S government realized the emergence of such a strong and forceful medium and that prompted them to slap the Stamp Act on any print advertisement way back in 1765. There ar e many facets of consumer culture that reach from retail and merchandise and to sports and leisure. The rise of baseball as a popular sport deemed it America’s favorite pastime (which is another example of consumer culture; giving something a label makes it more accessible to the public. Plus if its AMERICA’S favorite pastime, Americans of the day should love it, right.) As well as football being established with rules and regulations, driving the competitive nature of the game way up, and boxi...

Exploring Physical Activity and Health

Part 1: Health screening and physical activity (1200 words/60 marks)Pre-activity health screening is commonly undertaken in sport and fitness facilities. Scenario 1 (below) shows the results of a pre-activity health screening procedure for a male participant. Read Scenario 1 and then answer the questions underneath.Scenario 1Participant: GregGreg is 55 years old and runs his own company as well as managing a local women’s football team. During a routine health check, Greg was informed that he has high blood pressure and should take steps to address this. Since he stopped playing football himself Greg is currently very inactive and has therefore decided to join the gym at his local sports centre, to help to improve his health and with the intention of becoming fit enough to play in a local veterans’ football league.Health screening questionnaireGreg completed a PAR-Q (Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire) and answered ‘no’ to all questions. In other wor ds, Greg had no known medical conditions that could be aggravated by exercise at the time of completing the questionnaire.Health screening – physiological measurementsAfter the PAR-Q was completed, Greg undertook a series of physiological measures. The results of these are:Resting blood pressure = 150/92 mmHgResting heart rate = 85 bpmHeight = 190 cmWeight = 105 kgBody mass index = 29.1Waist-to-hip ratio = 0.99Body fat percentage = 26% 1.Explain the reasons why pre-activity health screening is necessary. (400 words/20 marks) 2.Discuss and analyse Greg’s results. Your analysis should identify whether or not the results fall into healthy ranges and discuss the implications of this, with a particular focus on the risk of developing cardiovascular disease. (400 words/20 marks) 3.Outline how physical activity could have a positive effect on Greg’s health. (400 words/20 marks)Part 2: Health and safety legislation (800 words/40 marks)Read Scenario 2 and then answer the questions underneath.Scenario 2Bradley is a member of the gym at his local sports centre. He regularly uses the gym and has completed a gym induction and health screening. One day he brings his 13-year-old daughter, Jessica, to the health club to use the gym. The health club has a policy that under-16s are not allowed to use the gym and that no one can use the gym without first having a gym induction and health screening. Bradley and Jessica are fully aware of this policy. Although she is 13, Jessica looks much older and could easily be mistaken for being aged over 16. Jessica avoids completing a gym induction by telling the reception staff that she will just be using the swimming pool.While using a piece of gym equipment inappropriately, Jessica falls and breaks her wrist. The gym was supervised by one instructor at the time, whose response to the accident was immediate and appropriate. 1.What legislation governs health and safety in a sports and fitness facility, and how might th ese relate to this incident? (250 words/13 marks) 2.Discuss whether or not Bradley and his 13-year-old daughter, Jessica, would have a case for a claim for negligence against the facility. Explain the reasons for your answer. (550 words/27 marks)

Management and Leadership Paper

Management and Leadership Paper Leadership and management are the two most confused terms in the corporate world. These are the two expressions used interchangeably in the corporate parlance. One is thought to be the replacement of the other. However, managers and leaders are two different spheres of organizational culture with one sphere, at some places, overlapping the other. These two together make the organizational culture and are responsible for its health. We will look at the various aspects of leadership and management with respect to the company GE (General Electric) and see how the two integrate while maintaining the disparity to make this organization number one enterprise and the best training school for future leaders and managers. Management Vs Leadership â€Å"Management is doing things right; leadership is doing the right things† The above quote by Peter F. Drucker sums up beautifully the essence of leadership and management. Management involves the tactical aspect of day to day running of a function. A manager gets the power to direct the subordinates by the virtue of the position being held. He/she typically carries out the responsibilities laid out by the organization for him/her. A manager is more of a problem solver and takes care of work areas relating to people management, time management, decision making etc. A leader on the other hand is more of a visionary. He has the ability to energize others and is self motivated and self driven. He sets the vision for his organization and has the power to influence the people to walk the path he has envisaged. However, there are places where a person needs to have both management and leadership skills. A manager in a team role would need leadership skills to influence his team members and get work done from them. Similarly, a leader needs to have management skills to be able to execute his vision. Hence, success of an organization would require people with a blend of both virtues. What role they play would depend on the percentage of each character in the individual. Leadership and management roles case study – GE GE has acquired its leadership legacy from Jack Welch, one of the greatest leaders of all times to come. He propagated a leadership style alien to the organizations of the time he took over GE’s reigns and changed the organization culture completely. Jack’s major success as a leader was due to his concept of â€Å"boundary less thinking†. This is how he grew an American manufacturing company into a services giant spread across 100 countries all across the globe (beginnersinvest. about. com ). One of the evidences of this â€Å"boundaryless† culture can be seen in Jack’s initiation of e-business. He connected the company directly to the suppliers as well as the customers electronically. This helped in quick information flow and instant resolution to the customer’s woes (answers. com). The managers here also followed this behavior as propagated by the leadership. This can be seen by the enthusiasm they took in taking up 6-sigma quality projects and delivered immense profits when Welch initiated the six sigma drive to reap benefits of the quality initiative. The managers enthusiastically followed their leader and undertook rigorous quality trainings, learned from each other’s experiences and further fired the six sigma drive. In fact, the benefits derived from this vision of Welch and the immense participation by the managers all across the businesses lead to a productivity gains of $320 million in 1997 and even more at around $750 million in 1998 (beginnersinvest. about. com ). Developing leaders was an important strategy of Welch as this always ensured a lineage of good leadership for the company. To fulfill this vision he had setup a leadership development school at Crotonville. He used this school as a means of encouraging â€Å"boudaryless† culture as well as a forum for â€Å"best practice sharing† as managers from various businesses would share their experiences both theoretical and practical and use the learning from these class room sessions to improve their respective businesses. However, some of the managers from â€Å"previous era† were not very enthusiastic about participation in these sessions. So, Welch started what he called â€Å"work-out† sessions. The managers would not be included in these discussions which were facilitated by academic people hired from outside the organization. After discussing the problems and solutions within the work-out group, the points were then discussed with the concerned managers there and then and they had to decide about whether to accept the solutions or give their view points against them and provide better options or to setup a plan to execute in phases (answers. com). Finally, these sessions became a way of resolving problems and involving employee participation and are still being used by managers to solve issues. Managers were the key messengers of the leadership to propagate and implement their messages. Managers were encouraged to come up with new ideas and were invited to Crotonville to proudly share ideas in front of Welch and the proficient executive team of GE (answers. com). Jack spread the concept of informality in the organization. He would send personal notes to people wherever possible. On of his managers once turned down a promotion because of his inability to shift from the location where he was presently working. Jack wrote him a personal note which went as follows: †We like you for a lot of reasons–one of them is that you are a very special person. You proved it again this morning. Good for you and your lucky family. Make Diamonds a great business and keep your priorities straight. † (beginnersinvest. about. com). Woodburn was immensely moved by this as he said †It showed me he cared about me not as a manager but as a person . That means a lot. ‘ (beginnersinvest. about. com). From the discussion above, we can understand how leadership differs from the management at GE. The leaders here are visionaries and the managers support their vision by following and propagating their ideas. Managers here are experts in their areas of operation while the leaders groom them to be future leaders. There were times, though, when the managers were not ready for the change their leader was propagating. The leaders have the capability of finding ways of getting their vision implemented which is evident from the work-out sessions idea of Welch. Recommendations for achieving a healthy work culture in an organization The growth curve and sustainability of an organization is highly influenced by its work culture. The key to everlasting success is to nurture the spirit of high business ethics in the organization. Where leaders and managers succumb to unethical dealings to spur growth, the organization is bound reach a fatal end soon. Thus, with undeterred focus on values, the leaders can create a transparent and healthy work environment. Another important strategy to achieve positive organizational culture is not to put pounding pressure on the people to perform. The undue pressure caused by Jack’s aggressive vision, lead people to resort to unethical means to deliver results. GE was at one time weighed down by scandals like the Kidder, Peabody & Co. bond-trading scam of the 90’s which resulted in bogus profits (beginnersinvest. about. com). Works Cited Kotelnikov, Vadim. 25 Lessons from Jack Welch. February 16, 2010. http://www. 1000ventures. com/business_guide/mgmt_new-model_25lessons-welch. html coach4growth. com. Leadership vs. Management: What are the Characteristics of a Leader and a Manager. 2007. February 16, 2010. http://www. coach4growth. com/good-leadership-skills/leadershipvmanagement. html beginnersinvest. about. com. How Jack Welch runs GE. May 28, 1998. February 16, 2010. http://beginnersinvest. about. com/gi/o. htm? zi=1/XJ/Ya=1=beginnersinvest=money=22=160_651_610_315=10=14=1=1=http%3A//www. businessweek. com/1998/23/b3581001. htm answers. com. Business Biographies: Jack Welch. 2010. February 16, 2010. http://www. answers. com/topic/jack-welch

Enobarbus and Antony Essays

Enobarbus and Antony Essays Enobarbus and Antony Essay Enobarbus and Antony Essay In this extract Enobarbus is relishing the attention of his fellow Roman soldiers as he recounts the spectacular first meeting between Cleopatra and Antony. He chooses a highly poetic, descriptive vocabulary to paint a picture of the extravagant sight of Cleopatras barge on its stately voyage down the river, bringing the sights, sounds and colours vividly to life for his spellbound audience. The opening lines of the extract show the dominant position Cleopatra holds in his memory: she pursued up his heart. The verb suggests that Cleopatra was the active participant in the love affair with Antony, revealing her predatory sexuality and supreme confidence in her own power and attractions. Agrippas interjections take the form of awestruck exclamations, revealing the extent of curiosity about the exotic lifestyle in Egypt that the Roman soldiers can usually only speculate about. Enobarbus swells with importance as he begins his account, and the line I will tell you is both a reminder of his own participation in the events, and a way of heightening expectation. The potent imagery of his speeches portrays Cleopatra as a rival to the goddess Venus, an apt role model for a woman who wields her sexuality as a weapon in her fight for power and status. Gold is the prevalent colour of the costumes and decoration of the procession, a burnishd throne, which is a symbol of great wealth and majesty. Clearly Cleopatra has chosen the allegorical role of Venus as a way of asserting her own divine status, both to her people who the city cast upon her, and to Antony. Not immune to the spell Cleopatra cast, Enobarbus hyperbolically personifies the very elements to suggest the sexual magnetism of the great queen: so perfumed that The winds were love-sick with them Cleopatra has the universe itself at her feet. In a time when gender roles were far more limiting for women than today, especially in Roman society, the strength and superiority of Cleopatra in her relationship with Antony is a source of wonderment, admiration and anxiety for the Roman soldiers. Enobarbus makes it clear that Antony was slighted by Cleopatras highly theatrical entrance, and the triumvir actually comes across as a pathetic figure, sitting alone in the market place during the celebrations when even the air itself had gone to gaze on Cleopatra. She took the dominant role in their relationship by refusing Antonys invitation to dine, and the fact that Enobarbus makes no effort to hide this from Caesars loyal followers, suggests both his respectful attitude to the power Cleopatra exerts over all men and his pained contempt for Antonys weakness which eventually leads to his defection.

IRVING Surname Meaning and Family History

IRVING Surname Meaning and Family History The Irving surname generally  originated as a geographical surname, indicating someone who was from Irving, the name of a historic parish in Dumfriesshire, Scotland, or from Irvine in Strathclyde, Scotland.   It may also be a variant of Irvine, a habitational surname for someone from Irvine in Ayrshire, which is named for the  river Irvine that originates in Ayrshire and flows through Dumfriesshire, from the Welsh ir, yr,  meaning green or fresh, and afon, meaning water.   Surname Origin: Scottish, English Alternate Surname Spellings: IRVINE, IRVIN, IRWIN, IRWINE, URVINE, ERWIN, ERWINE, ERVING Where in the World is the IRVING Surname Found? While it originated in Scotland, the Irving surname is now most prevalent in the United States, according to surname distribution data from Forebears. However, it is more common, based on percentage of population, in Jamaica, followed by Micronesia, Isle of Man, Scotland, New Zealand, Taiwan and England. Within Scotland, Irving is still most common in Dumfriesshire, where it originated, ranking as the 3rd most popular surname in that area at the time of the 1881 census. The Irving surname is also popular in the Cumbria and Northumberland counties of England, according to  WorldNames PublicProfiler, followed by the Dumfries and Galloway council district in Scotland. It is also more common in Canada than in the United States, especially in Nova Scotia.   Famous People with the Last Name IRVING Sir Henry Irving -  British stage actor during the Victorian eraT. B. (Thomas Ballantyne) Irving  - publisher of the first American English translation of the QuranThomas Irving - Union navy sailor during the U.S. Civil War; recipient of the Medal of Honor for helping to rescue his grounded shipEdward Irving - Scottish clergymanWashington Irving - American author  best known for his short stories Rip Van Winkle (1819) and The Legend of Sleepy Hollow (1820). Genealogy Resources for the Surname IRVING Clan IrwinLearn about the history of this ancient Scottish border clan, plus upcoming events and tours. Clan Irwin Surname DNA StudyTradition recorded in the 17th century claims that the Irvines or Irvings of Eskdale and Bonshaw (in Dumfriesshire, in the Scottish Borders),  Castle Irvine (in Co.  Fermanagh,  in Ulster), Drum and Marr (in Aberdeenshire), Mearns (Kincardineshire), Orkney and Perthshire were all descended from a single ancestor, who was also the progenitor of the kings of Scotland from 1034 to 1286.  This study, with over 400 members, aims to use Y-DNA testing to sort out the various family branches. Most Common Scottish Surnames and their MeaningsCampbell, Stewart, Wilson, Reid, MacDonald... Are you one of the millions of  individuals of  Scottish ancestry sporting one of these top common last names from Scotland?   Irving Family Crest - Its Not What You ThinkContrary to what you may hear, there is no such thing as an Irving  family crest or coat of arms for the Irving surname.  Coats of arms are granted to individuals, not families, and may rightfully be used only by the uninterrupted male line descendants of the person to whom the coat of arms was originally granted. FamilySearch - IRVING GenealogyExplore over 400,000 historical records and lineage-linked family trees posted for the Irving surname and its variations on the free FamilySearch website, hosted by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. IRVING Surname Family Mailing ListsRootsWeb hosts several free mailing lists for researchers of the Vanderbilt surname. DistantCousin.com - IRVING Genealogy Family HistoryExplore free databases and genealogy links for the last name Irving. The Irving Genealogy and Family Tree PageBrowse genealogy records and links to genealogical and historical records for individuals with the popular last name Irving from the website of Genealogy Today. - References: Surname Meanings Origins Cottle, Basil.  Penguin Dictionary of Surnames. Baltimore, MD: Penguin Books, 1967. Dorward, David.  Scottish Surnames. Collins Celtic (Pocket edition), 1998. Fucilla, Joseph.  Our Italian Surnames. Genealogical Publishing Company, 2003. Hanks, Patrick and Flavia Hodges.  A Dictionary of Surnames. Oxford University Press, 1989. Hanks, Patrick.  Dictionary of American Family Names. Oxford University Press, 2003. Reaney, P.H.  A Dictionary of English Surnames. Oxford University Press, 1997. Smith, Elsdon C.  American Surnames. Genealogical Publishing Company, 1997. Back toGlossary of Surname Meanings Origins

Human resource management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 7

Human resource management - Essay Example The global business environment is now making this change more certain as the environment is becoming more volatile; the need for operational excellence because of variety of forces including technology, economy, society, regulatory forces, competition, individually and collectively. The changes in the business environment has become too constant that it has become imperative for the going concern nature of the organization to adopt the change in all the ways possible – but this changes is easier said than done. Since it involves affecting all dimensions of the organization including the most important recourse i.e. the stakeholders. This change brings in different meanings for and different reactions from these stakeholders – the human resource of the company. The implementation of new information systems revamps the entire operating environment of the organization; therefore, there is a need for organizational development, managing resistance throughout the company, managing the fear that prevails in people because of changing technology, building and reinforcing trust amongst all members and participants, and managing the stress – mental and physical (Suzzana & David, 2008). Organizational Development – the process of implementing the new system, does not involve an abrupt or an overnight replacement of the system; careful and full-fledged planning with effective communication with stakeholders is needed for the proper and effective implementation of the system. The rapid change adaptation is very much a function of the extent to which the employees are involved in the selection and implementation of the new system. This acceptance of change is also affected by the cultural factors, some cultures are risk takers and are more inclined towards easy adoption of change; others are risk averse and thus prone to follow the status quo to avoid any potential mishap. Tackling Resistance throughout the organization – As

Design a Pay for Performance Incentive Awards Program Assignment

Design a Pay for Performance Incentive Awards Program - Assignment Example program that will run for five years within the organization seeks to maximize productivity besides developing an appropriate mindset among the employees. This way, the program is not only a short-term project but also a long-term motivational project. As discussed, the program will incorporate all the employees within the company including the top-level managers to the junior employees. In order to implement the program appropriately, the implementation will therefore vary depending on the employees. Just as the title suggests, the program seeks to reward productivity. Each level of employee has specific goals that the program will strive to achieve. In the top-level management for example, the program seeks to enhance creativity, intuition and management prowess. In middle level management, the program seeks to enhance both obedience and problem solving skills while in the junior employees of the organization the program seeks to enhance both competition and hard work. This way, the program enhances the overall productivity of the entire organization. Preliminarily, the program will ensure that all the employees within the organization are capable of undertaking their different roles. This complements the objective of the program since it seeks to reward productivity. The employees must therefore meet the qualifications set for their different roles a feature that ensures that they are capable of undertaking their roles within the organization. Furthermore, qualifications ensure that the employees are capable of meeting the obligations of their respective positions besides enhancing the ease of management. Top-level management must have appropriate qualifications. Managers make decisions daily operations within the organization through the formulation and implementation of policies. As such, they must have both the appropriate education and professional training to enable them make such appropriate decisions. The performance reward program will acknowledge the